Sliding conversation mirror assembly with magnetic assist for vehicle overhead console

ABSTRACT

A vehicle overhead console is provided which includes a conversation mirror assembly having a housing defining a storage space for storing a conversation mirror. The conversation mirror may travel between a stowed and a use position. The conversation mirror is releasably secured to the stored and use positions by way of magnetic, tab, and spring arrangements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to vehicle overhead consoles,and more particularly relates to a vehicle overhead console equippedwith a conversation mirror.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Automotive vehicles are commonly equipped with a rearview mirror thatenables drivers view the road behind the vehicle. While rearview mirrorsare typically positioned to provide a view of roadside conditions behindthe vehicle, there may exist instances where a driver desires to viewthe back seat portion of the vehicle such as checking on young childrenor engaging occupants sitting in the rear seating area of the passengercompartment. In these scenarios, a driver must either reposition therearview mirror or turn around, both of which may create an unsafedriving condition. For these and other types of vehicle use scenarios,it may be desirable to provide a conversation mirror that provides aview of the backseat area without obstructing the rearview mirror.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention, a vehicle conversationmirror assembly is provided. The conversation mirror assembly includes ahousing defining a storage space and a conversation mirror. The vehicleconversation mirror also includes a slider mechanism operatively coupledto the conversation mirror to move the conversation mirror between astowed position within the storage space and a use position extendingfrom the housing. The vehicle conversation mirror further includes amagnetic arrangement in communication with the slider mechanism toattract the conversation mirror to one of the stored and use positions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle overheadconsole is provided that includes a housing defining a storage space anda conversation mirror. The vehicle overhead console also includes aslider mechanism operatively coupled to the conversation mirror to movethe conversation mirror between a stowed position within the storagespace and a use position extending from the housing. The overheadconsole further includes a magnetic arrangement in communication withthe slider mechanism to attract the conversation mirror to one of thestored and use positions.

These and other aspects, objects, and features of the present inventionwill be understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art uponstudying the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a is a perspective view of a vehicle passenger compartmenthaving an overhead console employing a vehicle conversation mirrorassembly;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the conversation mirror assembly showing theconversation mirror in a downward deployed use position;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the conversation mirror assembly showing theconversation mirror in the upward stowed position;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the conversation mirror assembly employingfriction tabs, according to one embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the conversation mirror assemblyof FIG. 4 showing the conversation mirror in the downward deployed useposition;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken through line VI-VI of FIG. 5showing frictional tab engagement in the downward deployed use position;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view of the conversation mirror assembly ofFIG. 4 shown in the downward deployed use position;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the conversation mirror assemblyof FIG. 4 showing the conversation mirror in the upward stowed position;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken through line IX-IX of FIG. 8showing frictional tab engagement;

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of the conversation mirror assemblyof FIG. 4 showing the conversation mirror in the upward stowed position;

FIG. 11 is a front view of a conversation mirror assembly employing amagnetic arrangement according to another embodiment with theconversation mirror in the downward deployed use position;

FIG. 12 is a front view of the conversation mirror assembly shown inFIG. 11 with the conversation mirror shown in the upward stowedposition;

FIG. 13 is a front view of a conversation mirror assembly employing aspring arrangement according to a further embodiment with theconversation mirror shown in the downward deployed use position; and

FIG. 14 is a front view of the conversation mirror of FIG. 13 showingthe conversation mirror in the upward stowed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIG. 1, the passenger compartment of an automotivevehicle 2 is generally illustrated having a vehicle overhead console 10generally located on the front portion of the interior roof 4 betweenthe driver and front passenger seats. The overhead console 10 isgenerally rearward of and above the conventional interior rearviewmirror 6 so as not to interfere with viewing of the rearview mirror 6.The overhead console 10 may be connected to the underside of a vehicleheadliner or roof 4 and may include various components such as one ormore storage compartments, light assemblies, user input switches, andother vehicle assemblies. The overhead console 10 is equipped with aconversation mirror assembly 20 that includes a conversation mirror 18that may be stowed in a stowed position within the overhead console 10and deployed to a use position extending vertically downward below theoverhead console 10 to allow a driver or front seat passenger to viewthe area rearward of the front seat in the passenger compartment such asthe rear seating area.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the overhead console 10 includes a housing12 which defines a storage space 14 and is located to provide generallyunobstructed view of the rearview mirror. The storage space 14 containsa slider mechanism 16 capable of moving the conversation mirror 18between an upward stowed position as shown in FIG. 3 and a downward useposition with respect to the opening of the storage space 14 as shown inFIG. 2. The conversation mirror 18 is operatively connected or securedto the slider mechanism 16 to allow the conversation mirror 18 to movebetween the upward stowed position and downward use position. Apassenger, such as the driver of the vehicle is able to view the backseat portion of the vehicle when the slider mechanism 16 andconversation mirror 18 are deployed in the downward use position. A usermay manually actuate the conversation mirror 18 upward to the stowedposition by applying upward force and may deploy the conversation mirrordownward to the use position by applying downward force. To transitionbetween the stowed and use positions, the vehicle conversation mirror 18employs the slider mechanism 16 and further employs a couplingarrangement to hold the conversation mirror 18 in the stowed and usepositions.

The conversation mirror 18 has a reflective or mirrored surface thatprovides a wide viewing angle such as to enable a person seated in afront seat to view of the back seating area of the vehicle. According toone embodiment, the conversation mirror 18 has a curved convex shape.The conversation mirror 18 is shown having an elongated length and arelatively smaller height to as to prevent interference of theconventional interior rearview mirror 16 for viewing of objects rearwardof the vehicle. It should be appreciated that the conversation mirror 18may have other shapes and sizes, according to other embodiments.

Referring to FIGS. 4-10, the coupling arrangement is shown in oneembodiment employing a tab arrangement that releasibly secures thesliding mechanism 16 and the conversation mirror 18 in either the useposition or the stowed position. The conversation mirror assembly 20includes a housing member 30 fixedly connected to or formed as part ofthe housing 12 and defining a storage space 14 for receiving theconversation mirror 18 in the stowed position. The housing member 30includes a pair of male members 28 each adapted to slideably engage aslot formed by a pair of vertical extending rails 26. The male members28 may each include a vertical extending bar or one or more pins. Theconversation mirror assembly 20 further includes a slider mechanism 16operatively coupled to the conversation mirror 18. The slider mechanism16 includes the two pairs of rails 26 configured to receive members 28and allows the conversation mirror 18 to be guided between the upwardstowed position and the downward use position. The slider mechanism 16includes a bracket 34 that may extend on the rear side of theconversation mirror 18 and extend thereabove with the two pairs of rails26 extending above the conversation mirror 18. As such, the slidermechanism 16 attaches to the conversation mirror 18 via the bracket 34.In such an arrangement, the slider mechanism 16 extends vertical intothe storage space 14.

The tab arrangement includes a plurality of friction engaging tabs, suchas snap tabs, that frictionally engage one another to hold theconversation mirror 18 in one of the upward stowed position and downwarduse position. The tabs include a first plurality of tabs 40, 42 and 44shown provided on the housing member 30 and extending inward intostorage space 14. Tab 40 is located near the top of the housing member30 central between lateral sides and tabs 42 and 44 are located near thebottom of housing 30 near opposite sides. The plurality of tabs furtherincludes a second plurality of tabs 50, 52 and 54 provided on thebracket 34 of slider mechanism 16. Certain of the first plurality oftabs 40, 42 and 44 are arranged to interface with and frictionallyengage certain of the second plurality of tabs 50, 52 and 54 to hold theconversation mirror 18 in one of the use and stowed positions.

Additionally, the conversation mirror assembly 20 includes a protectivecover 32 disposed within storage space 14. The cover 32 shown formed asa curved sheet acts as a protective cover when the conversation mirror18 is positioned in the upward stowed position such that theconversation mirror 18 is located rearward of cover 32.

With particular reference to FIGS. 5-7, the conversation mirror 18 isshown in the downward deployed use position in which the conversationmirror 18 extends below the overhead console and allows for the vehicledriver or passenger in the front seat to view an area rearward of thefront seat within the passenger compartment. In the downward position,tabs 52 and 54 on the bracket 34 frictionally engage tabs 42 and 44,respectively, on the inside of the housing member 30. The frictionalengagement of the matingly engaged tabs 42, 44, 52 and 54 holds theconversation mirror 18 in place relative to the housing member 30sufficient to hold the conversation mirror 18 in the use positiondespite dynamic forces experienced on the vehicle. The frictionalengagement of the matingly engaged tabs may be achieved by a snap-fitarrangement. For each pair of matingly engaged pairs of tabs, one tabmay have a tooth 45 that engages a depression or notch 55 in the otherof the engaged pairs of tabs. Other frictional mating engageable shapesand sizes of tabs may be employed to hold the conversation mirror 18 isthe use and stowed positions. The frictional engagement of the matinglyengaged tabs may be overcome by a force whereby a user may disengage thematingly engaged tabs to allow the conversation mirror to slidevertically up from the downward deployed use position.

With particular reference to FIGS. 8-10, the sliding conversation mirrorassembly 20 is shown with the conversation mirror 18 in the upwardstowed position. The conversation mirror 18 is moved upward by a userapplying force vertically upward to allow the bracket 34 of slidermechanism 16 to slide on its two pairs of rails 26 which engage members28 until the frictional tab 50 on bracket 34 frictionally engages tab 40on housing member 30 so as to lock the sliding members into frictionalengagement to hold conversation mirror 18 in the upward stowed position.The frictional engagement of tabs 40 and 50 is sufficient to prevent theconversation mirror 18 from dropping downward due to gravity or dynamicforces that are normally experienced with the vehicle. Tabs 40 and 50may likewise be configured with one tab having a tooth 45 that engages adepression or notch 55 in the other tab. The frictional engagementbetween tabs 40 and 50 may be overcome by a force whereby a user maydisengage the mating engagement of the tabs by pulling the conversationmirror 18 downward with a sufficient force to overcome the frictionalengagement. The tab may be made of a polymeric material that flexes toallow movement between matingly engaged tabs such that the tooth 45 maymove into and out of engagement with the notch 55.

Furthermore, release and return mechanisms may be used to dislodge theslider mechanism 34 and conversation mirror 18 from the stored and usepositions. A release mechanism may include a leverage device to leveragethe slider mechanism out of frictional engagement with the housingmember. Such mechanisms may include electrical activated and manualactivated mechanism and may employ a spring to bias the slide mechanism.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a second embodiment of a couplingarrangement in the form of a magnetic arrangement is shown forpositioning the conversation mirror 18 in the stowed and use positions.In this embodiment, a slider mechanism 16 with bracket 34 operativelycoupled to conversation mirror 18 two pairs of vertically extendingrails 26 matingly engaging male members 28 in housing member 30 may beemployed as described in with connection with the assembly of FIG. 4 toallow the conversation mirror 18 to slide vertically upward and downwardbetween stowed and use positions. In this embodiment, the couplingarrangement employs magnetic attraction to hold the conversation mirror18 in one of the upward stowed position and downward use position. Themagnetic arrangement is employed to attract and secure the slidermechanism 34 and conversation mirror 18 to the upward stowed positionwithin the storage space 14 and the use position extending downward fromthe housing member 30. The magnetic arrangement includes a firstmagnetic portion 60 operatively coupled to the housing member 30 nearthe top thereof and a second magnetic portion operatively coupled to thehousing member 30 near a bottom side thereof, according to oneembodiment. In one embodiment, a ferrous member 64 is operativelycoupled to the conversation mirror 18 and is magnetically attracted tothe magnetic portions. The magnetic portions may each include one ormore magnets that attract to a ferrous material. The ferrous member 64may be located on the bracket 34 or on the conversation mirror 18. Theferrous portion is disposed to magnetically attract to one of the firstand second magnetic portions 60 and 62. When the conversation mirror 18is moved to the upward stowed position, the ferrous portion 64 attractsto magnetic portion 60 to hold the conversation mirror 18 in the upwardstowed position during normal vehicle motion. The magnetic attractionbetween the magnetic portion 60 and ferrous material 64 may be overcomea user applying sufficient force to pull the conversation mirror 18downward to the use position. In the use position, the magnetic portion62 attracts to the ferrous portion 64 to hold the conversation mirror 18in the downward use position during normal vehicle motion. The magneticattraction between magnetic portion 62 and ferrous portion 64 may beovercome by a user applying sufficient force to push the conversationmirror 18 vertically upward to its stowed position. The magneticattraction is sufficient to hold the conversation mirror 18 in the useor stowed positions despite forces experienced during normal operationof the vehicle. While the magnetic portions 60 and 62 are shown anddescribed as provided on the housing member 30 and the ferrous member isprovided on the conversation mirror 64, it should be appreciated thatthe magnetic portions 60 and 62 may be provided on the conversationmirror 18 or bracket 34 and that the ferrous member 64 may be providedon the housing member 30.

The magnetic portions 20 and 22 may include magnets that attract to aferrous material. Each magnet may include a single magnet or a pluralityof magnets. The ferrous portion 22 may be provided on the back surfaceof the conversation mirror 18 or may be provided on a member of theslider mechanism 16, such as the bracket 34 which, in turn, is coupledto the conversation mirror 18. By employing the attraction force betweenthe magnets and the ferrous material, a smooth movement of the bracket34 and the conversation mirror 18 is achieved relative to the housing20, without requiring a latch mechanism.

In one embodiment, the slider mechanism 16 includes two pairs of rails26 each for engaging a male member 28 such as a bar or one or more pinsto allow the bracket to matingly slide relative to the housing.According to other embodiments, other pins or connectors or matinglyengaging sliding mechanisms may be employed to allow the conversationmirror 18 to move vertically between the downward use position and theupward stowed position. It should further be appreciated that a releaseand return mechanism may be employed to dislodge the bracket 34 andconversation mirror 18 from the stowed and use positions. Such mechanismmay include electrical and manual means.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, a third general embodiment of theconversation mirror assembly 20 is shown having a spring arrangementthat releasably secures the slider mechanism 16 and conversation mirror18 in the use and stowed positions. There exist many types of springarrangements suitable for the abovementioned application, which mayinclude compression, extension, and torsion spring types. In the instantembodiment, the spring arrangement includes a torsion spring 70 operablycoupled to the housing member 30 at end 72 and to the bracket 34 at end74, wherein moving the bracket 34 and conversation mirror 18 to thestowed position stores rotational energy in the spring's windings thatare released once the conversation mirror 18 moves to the use position.The spring 70 may include an over center spring that bias theconversation mirror 18 to one of the upward stowed position and downwarduse position. In doing so, the slider mechanism 16 slides on the pairsof rails 26 and male guide members 28 as described above. Once theslider mechanism 16 crosses over center, the spring 70 biases thebracket 34 and conversation mirror 18 to one of the upward stowedposition and downward use position.

Movement between the use and stowed positions may be facilitated by anyof the means described in previous embodiments in addition to othersuitable means not described herein. Similar to previous embodiments, arelease and return mechanism may be used to dislodge the conversationmirror 18 from the stowed and use positions, which may includeelectrical and manual means.

It is to be understood that variations and modifications can be made onthe aforementioned structures without departing from the concepts of thepresent invention, and further it is to be understood that such conceptsare intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claimsby their language expressly state otherwise.

We claim:
 1. A vehicle conversation mirror assembly comprising: ahousing defining a storage space; a conversation mirror; a slidermechanism operatively coupled to the conversation mirror to move theconversation mirror between a stowed position within the storage spaceand a use position extending from the housing; and a magneticarrangement in communication with the slider mechanism to attract theconversation mirror to one of the stored and use positions.
 2. Theconversation mirror assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the magneticarrangement comprises a first magnet located at a first position forattracting the conversation mirror to the stowed position and a secondmagnet disposed in a second position to attract the conversation mirrorto the use position.
 3. The conversation mirror assembly as defined inclaim 2, wherein the first and second magnets are operatively coupled toone of the mirror and the housing, and a ferrous material is operativelycoupled to the other of the mirror and housing.
 4. The conversationmirror assembly of claim 1, wherein the slider mechanism movesvertically within the storage space to extend the conversation mirrordownward within a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
 5. Theconversation mirror assembly of claim 4, wherein the housing is providedin an overhead console of the vehicle.
 6. The conversation mirrorassembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the slider mechanism comprises abracket and a pair of rails, wherein the bracket slidably engages therails to move the conversation mirror between the stowed and usepositions.
 7. The conversation mirror assembly as defined in claim 1,wherein the slider mechanism comprises a first plurality of slidableengagement members and the housing comprises a second plurality ofslidable engagement members in communication with the first plurality ofslidable engagement members.
 8. The conversation mirror assembly asdefined in claim 7, wherein the first plurality of slidable engagementmembers comprises first and second indented guides and the secondplurality of slidable engagement members comprises a first plurality ofprotruding members in slidable communication with the first indentedguide and a second plurality of protruding members in slidablecommunication with the second indented guide.
 9. The conversation mirrorassembly of claim 1 further comprising a release mechanism disposed torelease the conversation mirror from the stowed position.
 10. Theconversation mirror assembly of claim 1 further comprising a returnmechanism disposed to return the conversation mirror to the stowedposition.
 11. The conversation mirror assembly of claim 1, wherein thehousing comprises a plurality of magnets and the conversation mirror isoperatively coupled to a ferrous portion, wherein the ferrous portion ismagnetically attracted to one of the plurality of magnets in the stowedposition and another of the plurality of magnets in the use position.12. A vehicle overhead console comprising: a housing defining a storagespace in the overhead console; a conversation mirror; a slider mechanismoperatively coupled to the conversation mirror to move the conversationmirror between a stowed position within the storage space and a useposition extending from the housing; and a magnet arrangement incommunication with the slider mechanism to attract the conversationmirror to one of the stored and use positions.
 13. The vehicle overheadconsole as defined in claim 12, wherein the magnetic arrangementcomprises a first magnet located at a first position for attracting theconversation mirror to the stowed position and a second magnet disposedin a second position to attract the conversation mirror to the useposition.
 14. The vehicle overhead console as defined in claim 13,wherein the first and second magnets are operatively coupled to one ofthe mirror and the housing, and a ferrous material is operativelycoupled to the other of the mirror and housing.
 15. The vehicle overheadconsole of claim 12, wherein the slider mechanism moves verticallywithin the storage space to extend the conversation mirror downwardwithin a passenger compartment of the vehicle.
 16. The vehicle overheadconsole as defined in claim 12, wherein the slider mechanism comprises abracket and a pair of rails, wherein the bracket slidably engages therails to move the conversation mirror between the stowed and usepositions.
 17. The vehicle overhead console as defined in claim 12,wherein the slider mechanism comprises a first plurality of slidableengagement members and the housing comprises a second plurality ofslidable engagement members in communication with the first plurality ofslidable engagement members.
 18. The vehicle overhead console as definedin claim 17, wherein the first plurality of slidable engagement memberscomprises first and second indented guides and the second plurality ofslidable engagement members comprises a first plurality of protrudingmembers in slidable communication with the first indented guide and asecond plurality of protruding members in slidable communication withthe second indented guide.
 19. The vehicle overhead console of claim 12further comprising a release mechanism disposed to release theconversation mirror from the stowed position and a return mechanismdisposed to return the conversation mirror to the stowed position. 20.The vehicle overhead console of claim 12, wherein the housing comprisesa plurality of magnets and the conversation mirror comprises a ferrousportion, wherein the ferrous portion is magnetically attracted to one ofthe plurality of magnets in the stowed position and another of theplurality of magnets in the use position.